ES2332327T3 - ACTUATOR SPRAYER, PROVIDED WITH ACTIVATION LOCK MEDIA. - Google Patents

Abstract

The object of the present invention is a fluid dispensing device (1), connectable/disconnectable to/from a container and a method of using the device. The device, actuable by a trigger (80), comprises means for locking the sliding of a dispensing piston (14) consisting of two projections (27) projecting from said piston and two slots (13) in the enclosure.

Description

Actuator sprayer, provided with means Activation lock.

The present invention relates to a fluid distribution device, activated manually, provided with activation blocking means.

It has been known for a long time that it is very useful provide distribution devices, for example with a actuator, with suitable closing means to close the distribution holes provided at the end of the duct of distribution so that, in the closed configuration, prevents accidental leakage of fluid.

Such unwanted escape may occur during the transport of the bottles, for example, due to an increase in temperature that causes the pressure inside the container, or in the domestic field.

An example of a distribution device provided with closing means described in the document US-A-4,706,888, and EP 1281443 describes a fluid distribution device according to with the preamble of claim 1.

However, the presence of the means of closure does not completely solve the problem of leaks Unwanted fluid

During transport, or even in the field domestic, the bottle actuator can be pressed accidentally, thereby causing fluid leakage from areas of the device other than the distribution holes, closed by the closing means mentioned above.

The object of the present invention is to overcome such a problem, especially evident when the activation of device is made through outstanding actuators.

Such an object is resolved by a device. of distribution prepared according to claim 1 a continuation. The dependent claims describe variations of the realization.

The features and advantages of the device of distribution according to the present invention will appear more clear from the following description, which is done by an indicative and non-limiting example with reference to the figures attached, in which:

- Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the distribution device in accordance with this invention;

- Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the plant of the device of figure 1 in a mounted configuration, where the device is installed on the neck of a container;

- Figures 3a and 3b show a diagram of operation of the device closing means in a closed configuration and in an open configuration, respectively;

- Figures 4a and 4b show views in perspective of a nozzle of the closing means of the device;

- Figures 5a and 5b show a diagram of operation of the device locking means in a configuration locked and in an unlocked configuration, respectively;

- Figures 6a and 6b show a piston of the device pumping means; Y

- Figures 7a and 7b show an element elastic of the device recoil means.

According to the attached figures, the number reference 1 globally indicates a distribution device of fluid that can be connected / disconnected to / from a container that It has a neck 2.

The device 1 comprises pumping means suitable to be activated to distribute the fluid to the device exterior.

The pumping means comprise an enclosure 4 that it comprises an annular wall 6 that delimits a pumping chamber 8 in the same to contain the amount of fluid to distribute. The camera pumping 8 extends along a distribution axis X.

Preferably, the neck 2 of the container that can be associated with device 1 extends along an axis C of the container, perpendicular to the distribution axis X.

According to a preferred embodiment, the enclosure 4 comprises an intake duct 10 that leads to inside chamber 8 and that is intended for fluid flow from the container to said chamber.

For example, the intake duct 10 is extends along an intake axis Y, perpendicular to the axis X distribution of camera 8.

According to a further embodiment, the enclosure 4 comprises a purge conduit 12 leading inside of chamber 8 and which is intended for air flow from the outside the container.

For example, purge duct 12 extends along a purge axis Z, perpendicular to the axis of X distribution of the camera 8.

In addition, the annular wall 6 of the enclosure 4 has the minus a groove 13 that passes through said annular wall 6.

Slot 13 comprises a part of sliding 13a, parallel to said distribution axis X, and a locking part 13b, which has an inclined axis with respect to said distribution axis X.

For example, the blocking part 13b of the slot 13 extends perpendicular to said part of sliding 13a thus configuring said slot 13 with "L" shape.

According to a preferred embodiment, the enclosure 4 comprises stop tabs 13c flexible and which project radially from the annular wall 6 to one end of the same.

In addition, the pumping means comprise a piston 14 that slides in said enclosure 4 along the axis of X distribution to force distribution of the amount of fluid to distribute.

The piston 14 extends along said axis X distribution between a proximal end 16 and a distal end opposite 18, facing the fluid distribution zone.

A tubular wall 19 extends from the proximal end 16 towards the distal 18, inside which is arranged a distribution conduit 20.

From the proximal end 16 towards the end distal 18, the piston 14 preferably comprises a skirt 22 which is projected annularly from the tubular wall 19, from which a first annular flange 24 and a second annular flange 26, axially separated from the first, they are projected externally radial.

The first annular flange 24 constitutes a example of a suitable purge means to allow the passage of air from the outside to the purge duct 12 in a stage of compression during device operation.

The second annular flange 26 constitutes a partition wall between chamber 8 and purge duct 12.

After the skirt 22, the piston 14 comprises at least one projection 27 projecting from the wall
tubular 19.

In the embodiment shown, the piston 14 it comprises a pair of projections 27, arranged along the same direction, perpendicular to the X distribution axis, that is, radial.

After projections 27, piston 14 comprises an activation disc 28 that projects from the wall tubular 19, for example, radially.

The projections 27 extend radially beyond the overall radial dimensions of the disc 28 and the
skirt 22.

In the vicinity of the distal end 18, the piston 14 comprises a connection part comprising a wall closure 30 that closes the distribution conduit 20, an element supply 32 projecting axially from the wall of closure 30 in a central position with respect to it and a outer annular wall 34 projecting axially from the wall of closure 30, which surrounds the supply element 32 and which separates radially thereof.

At the ends of it, the element of supply 32 has grooves 36 connected to the conduit of distribution 20 through holes arranged in said element of supply 32.

The connection part further comprises at least a pair of mobile terminal projections 38 that are projected externally from the outer annular wall 34 and separated from each other angularly

The connecting part of the piston 14 is applied in a nozzle 50 which constitutes an example of the closing means of device 1, which can be activated manually, preferably in rotation, and cooperating with said conduit of distribution 20 to close said conduit and prevent distribution of fluid

According to a preferred embodiment, the nozzle 50 comprises an annular manipulation wall 52, suitable to be able to grab it, for example, between the fingers of a user to rotate the nozzle around the distribution shaft X.

The annular manipulation wall 52 is closed on one side by a distribution wall 54, provided with at least a hole through which the distribution is made 55.

Internally, the nozzle 50 comprises an annular closure wall 56 that projects axially from the distribution wall 54 and has distribution grooves 58. The annular closure wall 56 surrounds the distribution hole.
tion 55.

Preferably, in addition, the nozzle 50 comprises an annular coupling wall 59 that projects axially from the distribution wall 54 and is separated radially with respect to the annular closure wall 56.

Preferably, in addition, the nozzle 50 it comprises at least one application tooth 59a that is projected, by example, internally axially from the distribution wall 54 and suitable for application in said terminal projections mobile 38 of piston 14.

According to a preferred embodiment, in addition, the device 1 comprises an application element 60 in the one that the piston 14 is slidably applied.

The application element 60 is inserted into the inside the enclosure 4, for example, with a coupling of shape.

According to a preferred embodiment, the application element 60 comprises a bottom wall 62 and a fungiform projection 64, which projects axially from the wall bottom 62 to be applied in room 4.

Preferably, in addition, the element of application 60 comprises an external tubular wall 66 that projects  axially from the bottom wall 62 on the opposite side with with respect to the fungiform projection 64 and which preferably axially bends over itself to obtain a coupling additional with the enclosure.

Preferably, in addition, the element of application 60 comprises a flexible annular flange 68 which is projects from the outer tubular wall 66, for example, in the free end of the bent part of it.

In particular, after the application element 60 has been placed inside the enclosure 4, the annular flange 68 moves to rest on the annular wall 6 of the enclosure 4 to separate the intake duct 10 from the
camera 8.

It should be noted that flexible flange 68 it is an example of the appropriate valve intake means  to allow the flow of liquid from the container to the chamber 8 during the admission stage of device operation and suitable to prevent fluid flow from chamber 8 to intake duct 10 in a distribution stage of the device operation.

Preferably, in addition, the element of application 60 comprises an internal tubular wall 70 that projects  axially from the bottom wall 62, internally radially with respect to the outer tubular wall 66.

The inner tubular wall 70 comprises a part flexible terminal 72 opposite the end connected to the wall bottom 62, shaped like a truncated cone, suitable for be applied to the tubular wall 19 of the piston 14, inside.

It should be noted that the terminal part 72 It is an example of the discharge means by valve suitable to allow fluid flow from chamber 8 to distribution conduit 20 in a distribution stage of the operation of the device and adequate to prevent the flow of fluid from distribution conduit 20 to chamber 8 in a fluid admission stage.

In addition, the device 1 comprises means of appropriate activation to manipulate them to activate the means of pumping.

The activation means comprise a actuator 80 comprising an activation part 82 to influence in said piston 14. For example, said activation part 82 is suitable for influencing the activation disc 28 of the piston 14.

Preferably, in addition, the activation part 82 is shaped like a cam to regulate the action of the actuator 80 in the piston 14 according to the needs.

Preferably, in addition, the actuator 80 comprises an articulation part 84 articulated to the enclosure 4 for allow rotation of actuator 80 in activation around an articulation axis W, perpendicular to said distribution axis X.

The device 1 further comprises means of elastic recoil suitable to influence said means of pumping from the distribution configuration, in which said pumping chamber 8 has a reduced volume, until the standby configuration, wherein said pumping chamber 8 has a volume greater than the reduced volume.

Preferably, the recoil means elastics are arranged external to the chamber 8 and, for example, are applied in projections 27 of piston 14.

According to a preferred embodiment, the elastic recoil means comprise an elastic element 90 which can rotate around said distribution axis X to follow piston rotation 14.

Preferably, the elastic element 90 comprises a mounting ring 92 and at least one flexible branch 94 which projects along the axial direction from the ring 92.

Ring 92 is installed on enclosure 4 in a rotating manner and the branch 94 is applied to the piston 14.

Preferably, ring 92 is restricted axially unilaterally by projected tabs 13c from wall 6 of enclosure 4.

As can be understood, said tabs 13c they constitute an example of restriction means for the media elastic, said restriction means being suitable for obtain a unilateral axial restriction of the elastic element 90 towards the enclosure 4.

Preferably, the branch 94 has a part arched 96 ending with a barbed part 98 for application in the projections 27 of the piston 14.

Preferably, in the idle configuration of the pumping means, the branch 94 extends along the external surface of enclosure 4, in contact with it.

In other words, in the configuration of at rest, branch 94 has a shape that cannot be contained in a flat, as it extends along a hypothetical line drawn on a cylindrical surface. The arched part 96 also forms a loop that advantageously allows the branch 94 to be placed in the distribution configuration in which it is deformed.

Preferably, the elastic element 90 is made of a single piece, for example, from acetal resin.

Preferably, in addition, the device 1 comprises suitable coating means to form a cover for the pumping means.

For example, said coating means they comprise a cover 100 that projects axially from the opposite side of the distribution area and rounded, to obtain a Ergonomic stop element for the user's hand.

To illustrate the conventional operation of device 1, first of all, it must be assumed that this is in a standby configuration, in which the user does not manipulate the actuator 80, in a closed configuration of the closing means and in a locked configuration of the blocking means.

In such a situation, the elastic means influence on the piston by removing it, as much as possible, from enclosure 4, of so that the pumping chamber 8 has the maximum volume.

In addition, the nozzle 50 is in a first position, in which the closing wall 56 closes the grooves 36 of the supply element 32 of the connecting part of the piston 14 (figure 3a).

In this way, the communication of fluid between distribution conduit 20 and the environment external.

In addition, the piston 14 is in a first position, in which projections 27 are placed in the part lock 13b of the slot 13 which extends mainly to the along an incident direction to the distribution axis X (figure 5a).

Therefore, it is greatly prevented or limited measured the sliding of the piston 14 along said axis of X distribution so that, even when acting on the actuator 80, such action does not cause the distribution of fluid.

For the distribution of fluid, the means of closure are brought to the open configuration and locking means They are taken to unlocked settings.

Particularly, the nozzle 50 is grasped, by example, between the user's fingers and is rotated around the distribution axis X.

In the open configuration, the nozzle assumes a rotated position with respect to the previous position, in which the distribution grooves 58 arranged in the closing wall 56 of the nozzle 50 are at least partially overlapped on the grooves 36 of the supply element 32.

In such a position, communication is restored of fluid between distribution conduit 20 and the environment external.

Under an additional rotation of the nozzle 50, in the same direction of rotation, the tooth of application 59a of the nozzle 50 moves to rest on the mobile terminal projections 38 while maintaining the fluid communication between grooves 36 and grooves of distribution 58 (figure 3b).

Under the application between tooth 59a and the mobile terminal projection 38, by rotating the nozzle 50 in the same direction of rotation, a rotation of the piston 14 around the distribution axis X.

The rotation of the piston causes the projections 27 exit the blocking part 13b of the slot 13, moving into the sliding part 13a thereof (figure 5b).

In this state, the sliding of the piston 14 and therefore it is possible to activate the means of distribution and distribute the fluid through an activation Repeated actuator 80.

As can be understood, device 1, also associated with the container, it is suitable to be seized for point the jet of fluid that is being distributed to a surface to be sprayed, preferably in said direction of the axis of X distribution of piston 14.

During the rotation of the piston between the configuration locked and configuration unlocked, the item  elastic 90, integral in rotation with piston 14, rotates with the same, preventing harmful distortions of the structure.

In the unlocked media configuration lockout, device 1 is suitable for switching from a standby configuration towards a distribution configuration and vice versa, to carry out the distribution of fluid.

In the distribution configuration, the camera Pumping 8 has a reduced volume. The reduction of the volume of chamber 8 causes the flow of the amount of fluid to be distributed from the pumping chamber 8 to the distribution duct 20.

In standby settings, the camera Pumping 8 has a volume greater than the reduced volume. Increasing of chamber volume 8 from reduced volume to higher volume causes the flow of the amount of fluid to distribute from the container to the pumping chamber 8.

The operating stage of device 1 from standby settings to setup distribution is called the distribution stage, which takes place with fluid compression, while the stage from configuration from distribution to standby configuration is called a stage of admission.

Innovatively, the device agreed with the present invention it allows to avoid the leakage problems that They are currently in the field.

It is clear that a specialist in the art you can make changes to the device described above to meet specific and secondary needs, including all within the scope of protection defined in the following claims.

Claims (20)

1. A fluid distribution device (1) that can be connected / disconnected to / from a suitable container for containing said fluid, wherein said device comprises: - suitable pumping means to activate them to distribute the fluid outside the device, where said pumping means comprise:

to)

a enclosure (4) that delimits a pumping chamber (8) to contain the amount of fluid to distribute;

b)

a piston (14) suitable for sliding in said enclosure along a distribution axis (X) to force the distribution of said amount of fluid to distribute, being the right device for distributing said fluid in said direction of the distribution axis of the piston;

C)

a distribution conduit (20) operatively connected to said pumping chamber to drive said amount of fluid to distribute outwards;

- suitable activation means for manipulate them to activate the pumping means, which comprise a actuator (80) comprising an activation part (82) for influence said piston; - closing means that can be activated from manual form cooperating with said distribution conduit to close said conduit and prevent the distribution of fluid, which they comprise a nozzle (50); - blocking means that can be activated from manual form that cooperate with such pumping means, suitable to limit the movement of the piston in said enclosure to prevent fluid distribution; said device being characterized in that the nozzle (50), by means of its rotation, brings the closing means towards an open configuration in which the fluid communication between the distribution conduit (20) and the external environment is restored and by virtue of a Additional rotation of the nozzle (50) brings the locking means towards the unlocked configuration in which the distribution means can be activated to distribute the fluid, and because the piston (14) is applied to the nozzle (50) in rotation. 2. A device according to the claim 1, wherein said distribution conduit is disposed inside said piston along said axis of distribution. 3. A device according to the claim 2, wherein the nozzle (50) is applied to said piston (14) at a distal end (18) of said piston in which conducts the distribution conduit (20), said said nozzle a closing wall (56) which, in a closed configuration, close said distribution conduit. 4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said nozzle comprises at least one application tooth (59a) to be applied in the piston in rotation. 5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said means of lock include: - at least one projection (27) that is projected from said piston; - at least one slot (13) arranged in said enclosure, wherein said groove comprises a sliding part (13a), parallel to said distribution axis, and a blocking part (13b) having an inclined axis with respect to said axis of distribution; and wherein said piston can be rotated in said enclosure around said distribution axis to allow introduction of said projection into said blocking part of the groove and limit the movement of the piston. 6. A device according to the claim 5, wherein said slot locking portion is extends perpendicular to said sliding part, configuring said "L" shaped slot. 7. A device according to the claim 5 or 6, wherein said projections are in a number of two, projecting from said piston along a only direction perpendicular to said piston. 8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims comprising means of elastic recoil suitable to influence said means of pumping from a distribution configuration, in which said pumping chamber has a reduced volume, towards a configuration at rest, in which said pumping chamber has a volume greater than the reduced volume. 9. A device according to the claim 8, wherein said elastic recoil means is they have external to said pumping chamber. 10. A device according to the claims 5 and 9, wherein said elastic recoil means  they are applied in said piston projections. 11. A device according to the claim 10, wherein said elastic recoil means they comprise an elastic element (90) suitable for turning around of said distribution shaft to follow the rotation of the piston. 12. A device according to the claim 11, wherein said elastic element comprises a mounting ring (92) and at least one flexible branch (94) that projects from said ring, said ring being installed mounting on said enclosure in a rotating manner and said branch applied to said piston. 13. A device according to the claim 12, wherein said elastic element is formed of a  single piece 14. A device according to the claim 13, wherein said elastic element is formed to from acetal resin. 15. A device according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein said branch has a arched part (96). 16. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said part of Activation (82) has a cam shape. 17. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said actuator It comprises an articulation part (84) articulated to the enclosure. 18. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said actuator is articulation to rotate around a joint axis (W) to activate said piston, this axis of articulation being perpendicular to said distribution axis (X). 19. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, suitable for being seized to point the jet of fluid that is being distributed towards a surface to spray. 20. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the piston comprises a connection part that is applied to the nozzle (50) in rotation.